By Sam Drysdale
Republican gubernatorial nominee Mike Minogue raised allegations about the State Police union’s endorsement of Gov. Maura Healey — which the union rejected as “categorically false” and the Healey campaign called “an unhinged rant.”
In a Facebook post Saturday, Minogue questioned whether Healey made a deal with the union in exchange for its endorsement in the upcoming election. He later released a statement calling for the governor to issue a statement “under penalty of perjury” regarding discussions between her administration and troopers. He suggested that a collective bargaining agreement that would be ratified by a supplemental budget Healey filed in September, and which the House passed last week, was in exchange for the endorsement.
“Maura Healey – did you cut a deal with the State Troopers for an endorsement as Governor?” he wrote in the Saturday Facebook post. “Is this new contract funded in the supplemental budget ? If so- exchanging a political endorsement for a taxpayer contract and withholding announcement until after election is illegal.”
The post is an escalation of an idea he first raised during a debate with Healey on Oct. 15, as the election now comes down to its final days before Nov. 3. During the debate, responding to a question about the State Police, Minogue said, “I will make sure that corruption is not tolerated, and I also don’t like the deals that are being cut with the different unions to get endorsements.”
Both Healey and the union strongly denied the allegations.
“Mike Minogue’s allegation that the State Police Association of Massachusetts exchanged its endorsement for a contract is categorically false. Accusing our members of corruption without evidence is reckless, and we will not allow their integrity or the contract they earned to be smeared for political gain,” Brendan Murphy, president of the State Police Association of Massachusetts, said in a statement Sunday.
Kerry Patrick Lyons, Healey campaign spokesperson, said Monday afternoon, “This is an unhinged rant from an unhinged, desperate candidate.” Lyons said his response was “issued under penalty of perjury,” in a nod to Minogue’s statement.
Healey filed a supplemental budget to close the books on fiscal year 2026 on Sept. 23, which includes language for “salary adjustments and other economic benefits” authorized by finalized collective bargaining agreements with SPAM, as well as with the Massachusetts Correction Officers Federated Union.
The bill she filed doesn’t detail the terms of that agreement, but it does create a $30 million reserve to meet the costs of the ratified collective bargaining agreements funded in the supp.
Murphy’s statement from Sunday said the agreement provides raises totaling 11% over three years, “consistent with what other state unions received.” He added, “Mr. Minogue’s claim of 18% is wrong.” Minogue had written in his Saturday Facebook post: “New contract 6% x 3 +18%.”
“Our members earned this contract through their service and sacrifice,” Murphy said. “Their compensation should not become a political weapon for a candidate seeking to attack the governor.”
Healey, a Democrat, scored endorsements from SPAM, the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association, Massachusetts Coalition of Police, and the Massachusetts State Police Commissioned Officers Association on Sept. 10.
None of the four groups endorsed her in her first bid for governor in 2022, according to a spokesperson for the governor’s campaign. Representatives of SPAM and MassCOP said those organizations did not endorse any gubernatorial candidate in 2022. Healey has made supporting law enforcement a centerpiece of her administration, often pointing to her two terms working alongside them as attorney general.
When she announced the endorsements at the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association’s Dorchester location during a campaign stop in September, Healey said, “I’m really proud and honored to receive the support of men and women in law enforcement because protecting public safety and protecting and supporting those whose job it is to protect and serve has been my highest priority as an elected official.”
In his statement Sunday, Murphy said SPAM’s endorsement reflects Healey’s “demonstrated commitment to law enforcement and the firsthand experience of our union leadership,” and added, “Mr. Minogue is free to disagree with our endorsement. He should correct his false allegations and apologize to the men and women of the Massachusetts State Police for questioning their integrity and using the contract they earned in an attempt to score political points.”
Minogue responded with a statement of his own.
His campaign released its own press release Monday to call “on Maura Healey to apologize to the Massachusetts State Police and to put the facts in writing about the timing of the new trooper contract and the union’s endorsement of her campaign.”
He maintained that the timing of the endorsement alongside the conclusion of contract negotiations weeks before the election “raises serious questions about transparency and the appearance of political influence.” However, he said his objections were directed at the governor, not the troopers themselves.
“Let me be clear: Our State Troopers deserve a fair contract, competitive compensation, and our full support and respect,” Minogue said. “What they don’t deserve is the perception that their contract could be tied to a political endorsement.” He said the governor “owes the troopers an apology for allowing circumstances to arise that put their integrity and professionalism in question.”
The Republican gubernatorial candidate called on Healey to “issue an official statement – under penalty of perjury – confirming whether anyone in her administration or campaign discussed or implied a connection between the contract and the endorsement,” and disclose all communications between the negotiation team and state police union representatives.
Reporters asked Healey about Minogue’s accusations during a campaign stop in Framingham on Monday.
“The State Police spoke to that,” she said. “I saw, and, look, I’m proud to have the support of law enforcement and the support of four police organizations that I’ve received so far in this race. That is about my work as somebody who has worked alongside and supported the men and women of law enforcement throughout my career as attorney general, and now as governor.”
When reporters followed up, asking if she denies that a deal was cut, Healey called the allegation “lies and nonsense.”
“This is just more lies and nonsense from Mike Minogue and his campaign, but I stand by the work that we’ve done with law enforcement,” she said.
The House passed its own version of the supplemental budget last week, with the same language to ratify the contract and include $30 million for a reserve account to fund the agreements. The Senate likely won’t take up the legislation until after the election.
